Attachment for strands, ropes, or cables



Aug. 21, 1928.,-

G. W. EWINS ATTACHMENT FOR STRANDS, ROPES, OR CABLES Filed Dec. 1926 iNVENTQR a t-area 5 4 1: m/m/a 1 M k ATWRNEY v i atented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. EWINS, OF BELLEVILLE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN CABLE COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ATTACHMENT FOR STRANDS, ROPES, OR CABLES.

Application filed December 1, 1926. Serial No. 151,909.

This invention relates to attachments for flexible strand, rope or cable and is of particular length of wire strand, rope or cable, suitable to form a tow-line for an automobile, although the improvements herein disclosed maybe utilized in any field for which they areadapted by their nature, and hereinafter the flexible member will be referred to genericallyby the designation strand using that expression without technical limitation.

An important object of the invention is to provide a rigid metal spiral terminal, for each end of a tow-line, adapted respectively to be entwined removably with an intermediate portion of the strand, rope or cable so that a running 100p, bight or hitch may be readily formed for the purpose of securing the tow-line to an automobile which is to be towed, by enclosing in that loop a portion of the axle or other suitable part, the other end of the tow-line being similarly secured to an automobile or other source of towing power.

A. further object is to provide an attaching spiral of the above character adapted for combination with a'strand to be used as a choker line or sling for logs, telegraph poles, and in general for use wherever it is desired to utilize a loop attachment.

The various objects of the invention are illustrated and described fully in the accompanying specification and drawings, and are pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a now preferred form of attachment embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a complete tow-line having an attachment at each end, and illustrating also further features of the invention.

In the now preferred embodiment illustrated, the part designated by the reference numeral 1 is a flexible metal strand of suitable material, size and strength for use as a tow-line for an automobile, or for similar uses, and in pursuance of the invention, I have provided a terminal attachment therefor comprising a rigid metal spiral member 2 which may be secured to the strand inany suitable manner, as for example by compressing a sleeve 3 of steel or other suitablematerial upon the abutting ends of the utility for combination with a strand and a shank minal.

lV hen it is desired to effect the connection of the strand to an automobile, log, telegraph pole, or other article, the strand is bent around as indicated in Fig. 2, forming a loop 5 attachment is to be efi'ected, and the spiral 2 is entwined with an intermediate'portion of the strand 1, thereby firmly securing the terminal to the strand, from which it may readily be removed by untwining it when desired,

The strand may be of any suitable length for the use intended, and may be desirably provided at its other end with a similar terminal as indicated at 6, where I have shown a modification of the means for securing the terminal to the strand.

For this purpose the terminal 6 is provided with an integral sleeve member 7 which is compressed upon the end of the strand in such a manner as to cause the material of the sleeve to flow into the helical peripheral interstices of the strand,efi'ect mg a strong and desirable connection.

While I have shown the attaching members 2 and 6 as applied to the ends of the strand, by way of illustration, it is to be understood that such spiral attaching devices may be applied with equal facility and utility to intermediate portions of a strand,

as by the use of a double sleeve, one part of which will be compressed upon the strand at the desired region, the other part being compressed upon the shank of the spiral or formed integrally therewith, leaving the spiral projecting into position to be enportion 4 ot the. ter

twined with the same strand or with another strand, as may be desired, and it is not considered necessary to illustrate such an arrangement thereof, or other modifications which may be adopted, as the construction of such modifications will be understood readily, from the form already illustrated and described, by those skilled in the art.

If desirable, a protective covering or sleeve of rubber, fabric or other suitable ma- 4 terial, may be provided upon that portion of the cable adjacent to the fitting, so as to prevent chafing between the cable and the article around which it is looped.

A stop, or stops, such as those shown at 9, may be provided, to limit sliding movement of the attachment along the cable.

I claim:

1. The combination with a flexible strand, rope or cable of a spiral metal terminal secured thereto by a sleeve compressed upon the end thereof and adapted to be entwined about an intermediate portion thereof to form the strand into a loop, and a stop member also attached to an intermediate portion of said flexible member and adapted to be engaged by said spiral terminal and thereby to determine the size of said loop.

2. The combination with a flexible metal strand, rope or cable of a spiral metal terminal secured thereto by a sleeve compressed upon the end thereof and adapted to be en.- twined about an intermediate portion thereof to form the strand into a loop; a stop member also attached to an intermediate portion of said flexible member and adapted to be engaged by said spiral terminal and thereby to determine the size of said loop; and a non-metallic sleeve upon said flexible metal member and confined between said terminal sleeve and said stop member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

GEORGE W. EWINS. 

